Device for taking clippings from magazines or the like



April 21, 1959 A. MARTIN 2,382,599

DEVICE FOR TAKING CLIPPINGS FROM MAGAZINES OR THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1957 INVENTOR. ArfhurL. Muff/n.

AUOPNEKS United States Patent 2,882,599 DEVICE FOR TAKINGCLIPPINGS FROM MAGAZINES OR THE LIKE Arthur L. Martin, Marion, Ohio Application May 16, 1957, Serial No. 659,600

6 Claims. (Cl. 30-294) for engagement with the upper surface of the sheet being cut. A-curved blade meansis mounted to the lower portion of the handle means and is extended between the confines of said slot. Such blade means includes a point extended beyond the guide means for piercing the sheet ofmaterial within the confines of its border edges for positioning the blade at the outset of the clipping operation. The blade means further includes a curved cutting edge portion disposed between the sides of said slot for severing the sheet of materialas' the tool is pushed across the upper surface of the sheet of material.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for taking clippings from a sheet of paper or the like which device is adapted to start a cut inwardly of the border edges of the sheet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described that can be accurately manipulated and guided to take clippings of any desired shape.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described that includes a piercing portion for starting the device within the confines of a sheet of material and a cutting portion for severing the sheet, said device being formed in a novel manner whereby the piercing portion does not snag the sheet being severed or the cutting surface beneath.

Further objects and advantages of the present in vention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of embodiment is clearly illustrated.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a cutting means comprising a portion of the device of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a partial side view partially in section, of the device of the preceding figures and showing the operative position of such device relative to a sheet of material being severed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the device of the preceding figures as it appears in a piercing configuration; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the device of the preceding figures as it appears in a severing configuration.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a device constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 20 and includes a handle portion 21 and a foot portion 22. A blade means 24 is detachably mounted in a socket 25 and retained in place by a screw 26 mounted in a hole 27 in handle portion 21 so as to frictionally engage a shank portion 30 of blade means 24.

2,882,599 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 tions.

As is best seen in Figure 4, the blade means 24 includes a down-turned point 32 for piercing a sheet 38 of paper, or the like, inwardly of the border thereof.

After the sheet of material 38 has been pierced by point 32, Figure 4, the device is positioned in the severing configuration of Figures 3 and 5 wherein the guide surfaces 35 of the foot portion 22 are coextensive with the upper surface of sheet 38. In this configuration a curved cutting or leading edge 40 of blade means 24 makes an edgewise cut into sheet 38, when the device is advanced in the manner shown in Figure 5, and a horizontal portion 42 of the blade means 24 underlies sheet 38. As seen in Figure 3, the forward end of blade means 24 includes an upturned portion 44 that is blunt so as to ride along the under surface of the sheet without snagging or cutting same. In addition, point 32 is downturned, relative to guide surfaces 35 and the plane of the sheet to prevent such point from digging into the sheet 38.

As is best seen in Figure 2, blade 24 is formed with a relatively narrow width dimension between cutting or leading edge 40 and the adjacent trailing edge of the blade.

In operation, it will be understood that the relatively thin blade means 24, due to its narrow dimension between leading edge 40 and the adjacent trailing edge, can be readily manipulated to follow curves or straight lines and the cutting path of such blade means can be turned in a relatively small radius. The side portions 33 and 34 form guide surfaces 35 on either side of blade means 24 for maintaining sheet 38 in engagement with curved cutting edge 40 of the blade means. Curved cutting edge 40 produces a clean cut as the portion of the sheet being cut tends to slide up'the radius of the curve as blade means 24 is advanced forwardly in the cutting path.

When it is desired to replace a dull blade means 24 with a new sharp one it is only necessary to loosen screw 26, remove the old blade means, and insert the shank 30 of a new blade means in socket 25. Screw 26 is then tightened to frictionally maintain the new blade means in place.

While the form of embodiment herein described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A tool for taking a clipping from a sheet of paper comprising, in combination, handle means including spaced foot portions forming a guide for engaging the upper surface of said sheet; and blade means forming a cutting edge between said foot portions, said blade means including a portion extended beyond said guide for disposition below the under surface of said sheet during a cutting operation, said blade means being narrow between a leading cutting edge and a trailing edge to permit altering the direction of the cutting path during a cutting operation.

2. A tool for taking a clipping from a sheet of paper resting on a supporting surface comprising, in combination, handle means including spaced foot portions forming a guide for engaging the upper surface of said sheet; and blade means forming a cutting edge between said foot portions, said blade means including a portion extended beyond said guide for disposition below the under ing a guide for engaging the upper surface of saidsheet;

and blade means forming a cutting edge "between said foot portions, said blade means including a portion extended beyond said guide for-dispos'ition'ibelow the under surface of said sheet during .a cutting operation, .said

blade means including a horizontal portion .and .a point for piercing said sheet, said point being .inclineddownwardly relative to said guide and Jocatedahove said supporting surface when said lhorizontal portion is being moved along said supporting surface.

4. A tool .for taking a clipping from .a .shcetuofpaper comprising, .in combination, handle means including spaced foot portions forming a guide for engaging the .upper surface of saidsheet; blademeansdforming a .cutting edge between said foot portions, .said blade means includinga portion vextended beyond said .guide for disposition below the under surface of said sheet during a cutting operation; and means for detachably mounting said blade means to said handle means,..said blade :means .being narrow between a leading cutting edge and a vtrailing edge to permit altering the direction of the cutting path during a cutting operation.

5. A tool for takingva clippingzfrom a sheet of paper resting on asupporting surface comprising, in combination, handle means including spaced foot portions forming a guide for engaging the upper surface of said sheet; blade means forming a cutting edge between said foot portions, said blade means including a portion extended beyond said guide for disposition below the under surface of said sheet during a cutting operation, said blade means including a horizontal portion and point for piercing said sheet, said ,point being located above said supporting surface when said'horizontal portion is being moved =alongsaid'supporting surface; and means for de tachably mountingsaid blade meansto said handle means.

6. A tool for taking a clipping from a sheet of paper resting on a supporting surface comprising, in combination, handle means including .spacedifoot portions forming a guide for engaging the upper surface of said sheet; blade means forming a cutting edgebetween said foot portions, said blade means including a portion extended beyond said guide for disposition below the under surface ofrsaidisheet .duringa cutting operation,,.said blade means including a"horizontal portion .and .pcintfior piercing saidsheet, said po'intibeing inclined downwardly relative to saidigui'de and located above -said supporting -,surface whensaid horizontal portion is being moved along said supporting surface; and. means for detachably mounting said'blade means to said'handle :means.

References Cited in the 'file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS :Great Britain w Oct. 25, 

